In an interview released Friday,
Jerusalem's chief rabbi called homosexuality an “abomination.”

Rabbi Shlomo Amar lashed out at
Israel's LGBT community in an interview with an Israeli newspaper.

“I call it a cult,” he said. “It's
a cult of abominations, it is obvious. It's an abomination.”

“The Torah says it is punishable by
death. It is in the first rank of severe offenses … They say
'leaning,' 'perversion' – this is nonsense. There is lust, and a
person can overcome it if they want to, like all lusts. This is
among the most forbidden lusts, the most severe,” Amar added.

Amar also criticized rabbis who reach
out to the LGBT community: “There is no such thing, to show
understanding or tolerance for this. A simple truth needs to be
stated – there is a severe prohibition, and there is no allowance
for it.”

LGBT rights activist Oded Fried said in
filing a police complaint that Amar's comments were an incitement to
bigotry.

According to the
AP, Amar's comments were protested by dozens of activists who
held rainbow pride flags outside Amar's office.

Israel is majority secular but
nationalist and ultra-Orthodox leaders such as Amar are increasing in
power.